A matter of the heart – Teen raises funds for public defibrillators

Here’s an amazing story of friendship from Grimsby, Ontario that shows what can happen when a community comes together.

One of Mikey’s Kids, Emily Herbert, is at risk for cardiac arrest due to an inherited disease known as Brugada syndrome. Her friends watched how this diagnosis affected her whole family.

A family friend, Brenden Ruigrok, decided to throw a fundraiser for Emily, to give back to the organization that provided her with an AED – The Mikey Network! He organized a youth dance as a fundraiser.

“I wanted to help people like Emily,” said Ruigrok, who was trained on how to use the Mikey at age 11 along with the Herbert family. “I saw so many places in the community where people needed help I thought why not do something for somebody that I care about. Someone who I am close to.”

More than 100 kids showed up – including all of Emily’s friends of course. They raised over $1,200 for The Mikey Network.

You can read the whole story in the Grimsby Lincoln News online.